Apparatus for use with a dispatching system having visual and audible signals

ABSTRACT

Apparatus for use with a system for holding and dispatching customers in a business establishment having a plurality of separate operating stations such as a bank so that customers can be retained in a single line and then dispatched to an operating station when the operator at that station is free to transact business. A number of remote units are connected to a master unit such that energizing actuating means at the remote unit causes a bell to ring momentarily and flashes a light at both the remote unit and the master unit. The bell indicates to those standing in line that an operating station is ready to service the next customer and the flashing lamp at the master unit indicates which particular operating station is ready for use. The flashing lamp at the remote unit helps the customer find the right operating station. The system includes a counter at each remote unit energized by the actuating means so that information regarding the number of customer transactions will be recorded at each operating station.

United States Patent LaVanway [76] Inventor: Edward K. LaVanway, 30050Club House Ln., Farmington, Mich. 48024 [22] Filed: Aug. 14, 1972 [21]Appl. No.: 280,590

Related Application Data [63] Continuation-impart of Ser. No. 43,692,June 5,

1970, abandoned.

[52] US. Cl. 340/286 R, 340/378 R, 340/326 R [51] Int. Cl. G08b 7/00[58] Field of Search 340/248 RX, 326 R, 378 R, 340/286 R, 332 R [56]References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,182,357 5/1965 Tuttle 340/286 R3,261,011 7/1966 Crosthwait.. 340/286 X 3,281,821 10/1966 Joy ..l340/286 X 3,310,797 3/1967 Auger 340/286 R Primary Examiner-Harold l.Pitts Dumont [5 7] ABSTRACT Apparatus for use witha system for holdingand dispatching customers in a business establishment having a pluralityof separate operating stations such as a bank so that customers can beretained in a single line and then dispatched to an operating stationwhen the operator at that station is free to transact business. A numberof remote units are connected to a master unit such that energizingactuating means atvthe remote unit causes a bell to ring momentarily andflashes a light at both the remote unit and the master unit. The bellindicates to those standing in line that an operating station is readyto service the next customer and the flashing lamp at the master unitindicates which particular operating station is ready for use. Theflashing lamp at the remote unit helps the customer find the rightoperating station. The system includes a counter at each remote unitenergized by the actuating means sothat information regarding the numberof customer transactions will be recorded at each operating station.

5 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures Apr. 9, 1974' APPARATUS FOR USE WITH ADISPATCHING SYSTEM HAVING VISUAL AND AUDIBLE SIGNALS RELATIONSHIP TOOTHER APPLICATION The present application is a continuation-in-part ofapplication Ser. No. 43,692, filed June 5, 1970 and now abandoned.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION I. Field of the Invention The presentinvention relates to apparatus for use in a system for controllingcustomer traffic in a business establishment and more particularly toapparatus for a system for directing customers from a single waitingarea to one of a plurality of customer service stations as thosestations becomes free.

ll. Description of the Prior Art In business establishments having aplurality of operating stations, such as a bank with a number ofdifferent teller windows, it has been the customary practice forcustomers to wait in lines in front of the individual stations for theirturn to conduct their business. This method of operation is by no meansthe most efficient in which to accomodate customers in a businessoperation. Often a person seeking to conduct his transactions in thequickest manner possible will understandably choose to wait in theshortest line. However, since each transaction will take a differentamount of time, it is impossible to quess which window will be freefirst and it is often the case that the shortest line requires a longerwaiting time than another longer line. This situation often produces asense of dissatisfaction and disgruntlement on the part of the customer.Furthermore, it is often the case that in large business establishmentswith a plurality of operating stations, such as a bank, that only aportion of the operating stations are visible to the customer at any onetime or that the customer is unable to observe all operating stationssimultaneously. In this situation, the customer will often wait in anear line in order to conduct his business whereas an operating stationnot entirely visible to the customer may have few or no customerswaiting to transact business. This situation leads to an inefficientsystem of accommodating customers and one that is generallyunsatisfactory. v

To overcome this problem, many banks and similar establishments are nowutilizing a system wherein the customers are maintained in a single lineaway from the tellers so that they can move to the first teller whobecomes free. This is a better system than those previously used for thereasons given above. A problem often encountered with the use of such asingle line system, however, is that the tellers windows are not allequally visible from the single line. Also, unless the next patron ispaying attention, several minutes may go by before he realizes that awindow has been free.

The present invention provides apparatus to be used in a single linesystem and which makes such a system more efficient.

U. S. Pat. No. 3,182,357, issued to R. G. Tuttle on May I l, 1965,discloses a similar system for banks and grocery stores but whichutilizes a plurality of waiting stations. Means are provided to releasecustomers from the waiting stations in turn-as a service area becomesfree. While this alleviates the problems encountered by customers whoselect the wrong line in a bank or the like where each teller has hisown line, it does not eliminate the problem. The wrong line can beselected at the waiting station and although it is impossible that apoor selection would cause a person to wait an additional time longerthan one complete cycle through the waiting stations, it is entirelypossible that a person coming to a particular waiting station afteranother had assumed the same position at another station could bereleased first.

The present invention provides apparatus which insures that the firstperson in line will be served first.

SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION The apparatus of the present inventionis comprised of a plurality of remote operating units connected to amaster unit. The master unit is positioned to be visible to customerswaiting in a single line and the remote units are placed at the variousoperating stations. When an operating station is free to conductbusiness, the operator will energize actuating means on the remote unitto sound a bell and to illuminate two flashing lights for apredetermined time; one light at the master unit will indicate bystation number, letter, or other designation which operating station isfree to conduct business, while the light at the remote unit, arrangedin a manner visible to the line of customers, will provide a furtherindication of the station free to conduct business. Furthermore, acounter is installed on each remote unit which records the number ofcustomers serviced at that station, thus allowing the management of thebusiness establishment to determine the productivity of each stationoperator, customer business volume of the business establishment and thelike.

Finally, for convenience, the system operates on ordinary line voltage.However, as a safety factor, a stepdown transformer is utilized toreduce the line voltage, thereby eliminating the danger of harmfulelectric shock to the station operators. Therefore, a primary object ofthis invention is to provide an apparatus to make more efficient use ofa system for dispatching customers in a business establishment from asingle waiting line to available customer service stations.

Another object is to record the number of transactions carried on ateach station in a business establishment with a plurality of operatingstations by providing means automatically registering a count each timethe remote unit is actuated to indicate that the operator at thatstation is free to service the next customer.

Another object is to provide a system of controlling the flow of personsin a business establishment with a plurality of operating stations whichutilizes convenient line voltage and yet eliminates'the danger ofharmful electric shock by providing a step-down transformer in thesystem intermediate the master unit and each of the remote units.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Other objects and advantages of theinvention will become evident as the invention is further described inconjunction with the accompanying drawings in which like parts refer tolike parts throughout the several views and in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating the system of the presentinvention ready for use;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a portion of a preferred master unit andone preferred remote unit of the system of the present invention; and

FIG. 3 is a schematic representation of a preferred electrical circuitfor the system of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Now referring to the drawingsfor a detailed description of the present invention, a preferredembodiment thereof is illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 as comprising amaster unit and a plurality of remote units 12. The remote units 12 areindividually placed at an operating station, indicated generally byreference characters 14, while the master unit 10 is supported by astand 16 and is placed adjacent a waiting area 18.

The remote units 12 each preferably comprises a base portion 20, a post22 supported by the base portion 20 and an indicating portion 24supported by the post 22. A numeral, indicated by reference character 26formed on the indicating portion 24, designates an operating station andcorresponds with the same numeral in a row of indicia 28 formed on themaster unit 10. In the preferred embodiment illustrated, the master unit10 can be connected with eight remote units 12, but it is apparent thata greater or lesser number of remote units 12 can be provided dependingupon the needs of the particular bank or other business establishment.

Each remote unit 12 further comprises upper and lower triangular capmembers 30 and 32, respectively, which retain transluscent panes 34 inplace. The numerals 26 are formed in the panes 34 with the triangularcap members 30 and 32 displaying the panes 34 in a position so that theyare visible from the greatest possible number of directions. The baseportion 20 includes an actuating portion 36 of a switch, preferably ofthe plunger type, and a counter indicator 38 which indicates the numberof times the actuating portion 36 has been depressed in a manner whichwill be subsequently described.

The master unit 10 preferably comprises a housing 40 having a fronttransluscent panel 42 on which the numerals 28 and a set of instructions44 can be displayed.

Referring now to FIG. 3, a preferred electrical diagram of the presentinvention is illustrated. Lines 50 and 52 are adapted to be connected inthe conventional manner to ordinary line voltage, usually 1 volts AC, toprovide electrical power for the system. A conventional switch 54 inline 50 operates to turn the system on or off and main sign lights 56,mounted within the housing 40 of the main unit 10, are energized by theswitch 54 so that the panel 42 is illuminated whenever the system is inoperation. A

A flashing motor 56 is connected across lines 50 and 52 in series with aplurality of single pole, single throw relays 60 and master indicatorlights 62. The lights 62 are positioned in the housing 40 with one lightdisposed behind each numeral in the row of numerals 28. Thus,

while in the schematic only three lights 62a, 62b and 62c and theircorresponding relays 60a, 60b and 600 are illustrated, it is to beunderstood that in the particube provided depending upon the needs ofthe particular business establishment.

It is clear then that when a relay 60 is closed the flashing motor 58will cause the light 62 in series with the particular relay 60 to flashto draw customer attention to the particular numeral in the row ofnumerals 28 which is being illuminated.

A step-down transformer 64 is also connected across lines 50 and 52. Thestep-down transformer 64 reduces the l 15 volt line voltage to 24 voltsin the present embodiment of the invention in a manner well known in theart prior to connection to the remote units 12, thus eliminating anydangerous electrical shock hazard to operators of the remote units 12.

Each remote unit 12 is identical to the other remote units 12 so that adescription of one will suffice as a description for all of them. Poweris supplied to the remote units 12 through leads 66 and 68 which areconnected directly to the electrical output terminals 70 and 72,respectively, of step-down transformer 64. Connected in series acrossleads 66 and 68 are a singlepole, single throw switch 74 and remote unitlight 76. It has been found to beconvenient to use a common push buttontype switch for switch 74 and this is the actuating portion 36 of FIG.2. Switch74 is operated in conjunction with a time delay 78, thusholding the switch 74 in a closed state for a predetermined period oftime. The time delay 78 is of the conventional relay type and a timedelay of about 15 .seconds has been found convenient for the presentinvention. However, the time delay 78 may be easily adjusted for timedelays up to several minutes in standard time delay devices. Remotestation light 76 is preferably a 24 volt incandescent light bulb and isconnected in series with the switch 74 and the step-down transformer 64,such that closure of switch 74 will illuminate the remote unit light 76.It has been found convenient to connect the remote unit light 76 to theswitch 74 through a two wire standard female-male electrical connector80.

A solenoid 82 is connected in parallel with the light 76 so that it toois energized each time the switch 74 is actuated. The solenoid 82energizes a standard rotary type counter 83, the indicator 38 (FIG. 2)of which is in view on the base portion 20 of the remote unit 12. Thesolenoid 82 remains in the energized state until switch 74 is againopened. When the switch 74 opens, the solenoid 82 deenergizes, thusbeing ready to increment counter 83 upon the next closure of switch 74.In this manner, each closure of switch 74 is automatically recorded bycounter 83. A dial 85 (FIG. 2) is prefera bly provided on the exteriorof the base portion 20 to permit the counter to be manually reset.Female and male connectors 88 and are preferably provided to permitconnection and disconnection of the remote units 12 and from the leads66 and 68.

The master unit 10 also includes latching mechanism 84 for the relays 60and these are connected to the switch 74 and step-down transformer 64 bylines 86 and 88 and connectors 900. Thus, when switch 74 is closed,latching mechanism 840 for the particular remote unit 12 is energized toclose the corresponding relay 60a and thus energize the light 62a at themaster unit 10. When the switch 74 is returned to the open state by thetime delay 78, latching mechanism 840 deenergizes, thus returning relay60a to the open position so that both lights 62a and 76a aredeenergized.

A flashing motor 92 is illustrated as being connected in the circuit forthe lamp 76. It is clear, however, that a single flashing motor could,if desired, be used for all of the lamps 76 in the remote unit 12. Abell 94 is provided in the master unit to be actuated by the switch 74.The bell 94 preferably is of the type which strikes but once each timethe switch 74 is actuated.

The operation of the present invention may now be described for use in abank, although the use of the present invention in grocery stores,shopping markets and the like are well within the scope of theinvention. The banking customers form one line near or in front of themaster unit 10, preferably in the area 18 as indicated in FIG. 1. Eachteller window 14 is equipped with a remote control unit 12. As theteller is finished with a customer and ready to accommodate anothercustomer, the teller closes switch 74 by the actuating portion 36 on hisremote unit. The closure of switch 74 will activate time delay 78 andwill energize latching mechanism 84, thus closing relay 60. The closureof relay 60 will cause the bell 94 to sound and will complete thecircuit to the master indicator lamp 62 which, when utilized inconjunction with the flashing motor 58, will continue flashing until therelay 60 resumes an open state. The closure of switch 74 will alsoilluminate the remote station light 76 so that it will begin flashingand energize solenoid 82, thus incrementing counter 83. The bankcustomer in the front of the line will thus hear the bell so that hisattention will be called to the master unit 10. The flashing light onthe panel 42 of the master unit 10 indicates the designation of theteller station that is free to accommodate the customer. The customerthen may identify the free teller station by observing that the remotestation light 76 disposed within the indicator portion 24 is alsoflashing.

After the switch 74 has remained closed for a predetermined time, thetime delay 78 will again open the switch 74, thus extinguishing theremote unit light 76 and deenergizing the latching mechanism 84 which inturn opens the relay 60, thus extinguishing the'flashing masterindicator light 62.

In addition, as the switch 74 resumes an open position, solenoid 82deenergizes and is thus ready to increment counter 83 upon the nextclosure of switch 74. The counter 83 may be used by the management ofthe bank to check the productivity of the individual tellers, the amountof customer business, and the like. When the teller is finished with thecustomer, the teller again closes the switch 74 and'the processdescribed above is repeated.

It is apparent that an apparatus has been described which willfacilitate the utilization of a system for dispensing of service at anumber of stations in business establishments where this is the mannerin which services are provided. The system includes an audio indicationthat a service area is free and a visual indication of which servicearea is ready to service the customer. Safety features are provided sothat there is little danger of accident, and a counting means isincorporated into the apparatus so that the system can also be used forpurposes of evaluation.

It is also apparent that the particular system described can be readilyinstalled in existing establishments. In a sense it is completelyportable as it can be plugged into the wall and be put into operation.The remote units and the master unit can be moved from one place toanother and do not become permanent fixtures, so that it is notnecessary to substantially modify the existing structures to accommodatethe present apparatus and to use such apparatus in a system for insuringefficient customer handling. A standard assembly can be provided toaccommodate a predetermined number of remote units, but the apparatuswill still function with less than this number of remote units. Thosethat will be used in a given situation will be simply plugged into themaster unit.

It is also apparent that although I have described but a singleembodiment of my invention many changes can be made therein withoutdeparting from the spirit of the present invention or the scope of theappended claims.

I claim:

1. Apparatus for use in a system for retaining customers in a singleline and then dispatching them to one of a number of service areas asthe service areas become free, said apparatus comprising a master unitdisposed to be viewed by the customers in the line and a remote unitdisposed at each of the service areas in a position to be viewed by thecustomers in the single line, said master unit being adapted forconnection to a source of ordinary line voltage, an electricalconnection between said master unit and said remote units, saidelectrical connection including a step-down transformer for reducing theline voltage connecting said master unit and said remote units, saidremote units being portable and being connected with said master unit,audio indicating means associated with said master unit and visualindicating means on said remote units and on said master unit, means atsaid remote units for actuating simultaneously both the audio indicatingmeans and the visual indicating means whereby the availability of aservice area will be indicated by the audio indicating means, theparticular service area which is available will be indicated by thevisual indicating means on the master unit and the location of theavailable service area will be indicated by the visual indicating meanson the remote unit.

2. The apparatus as defined in claim 1 and including means for recordingand indicating each time the actuating means on said remote unit hasbeen actuated.

3. The apparatus defined in claim 1 and in which said visual indicatingmeans comprises. electric lamps and including means for flashing atleast one of said electric lamps.

tion of one of said remote units.

I UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE. I CERTEFICATE OFCORRECTION 2 Patent No. i3 I 78 Dated P 1-974 Inventor(s) Edward K. Lavanway It is certified thaterror appears in the above-identified patent and that said LettersPatent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Col, 3, line 23, after "station" insert --l4--;

line 24, delete "indicia' and insert -numerals-;

- line 55, delete "main" and insert -master--;

line 58, delete "56" and insert ---58-; C01. 4, line 53, after "counter"insert -83; line 60, delete "88" and insert 88a--; Col. -5, line 2,delete "76" and insert --76a'- line 14, delete "teller window" andinsert opeir'ating station-;

line 14, after "14'', insert or teller window in the case of a bank-;

' line 18, after "unit" insert l2--;

line 22, change "lamp" to light-- line 38, delete "unit" and insertstation--.

Signed and sealed this 22nd day of October 1974.

(SEAL) Attest:

McCOY M. GIBSON JR. C. MARSHALL DANN Attesting Officer Commissioner ofPatents FORM PO-1050 (10-69) USCOMWDC 6O376 P69 U.S. GOVERNMEN TPRINTING OFFICE: 1989 O-3G$-334

1. Apparatus for use in a system for retaining customers in a singleline and then dispatching them to one of a number of service areas asthe service areas become free, said apparatus comprising a master unitdisposed to be viewed by the customers in the line and a remote unitdisposed at each of the service areas in a position to be viewed by thecustomers in the single line, said master unit being adapted forconnection to a source of ordinary line voltage, an electricalconnection between said master unit and said remote units, saidelectrical connection including a step-down transformer for reducing theline voltage connecting said master unit and said remote units, saidremote units being portable and being connected with said master unit,audio indicating means associated with said master unit and visualindicating means on said remote units and on said master unIt, means atsaid remote units for actuating simultaneously both the audio indicatingmeans and the visual indicating means whereby the availability of aservice area will be indicated by the audio indicating means, theparticular service area which is available will be indicated by thevisual indicating means on the master unit and the location of theavailable service area will be indicated by the visual indicating meanson the remote unit.
 2. The apparatus as defined in claim 1 and includingmeans for recording and indicating each time the actuating means on saidremote unit has been actuated.
 3. The apparatus defined in claim 1 andin which said visual indicating means comprises electric lamps andincluding means for flashing at least one of said electric lamps.
 4. Theapparatus defined in claim 3 and including means holding said actuatingmeans in an actuated position for a predetermined period of time.
 5. Theapparatus as defined in claim 1 and in which said master unit and saidremote unit indicating means includes lamps at said master unit and atsaid remote units and said electrical connections including electricalrelays energizing said master unit lamps upon actuation of one of saidremote units.